Bhushan, an accused in the case, argued that the imposition of Sec 144 by Delhi police was “illegal” and in violation of the orders passed by the Supreme Court.

“The point here is that this (imposition of Sec 144) has become the easiest way for police or the government to harass activists and political opponents...the chargesheet and trial is itself a punishment for us,” he said.

Bhushan further said that Sec 144 is a provision which is meant to take care of an emergency situation only.

“How can the police apprehend that there was threat to law and order if we will march to PM's residence? We have been holding protests during our anti-corruption movement for a long time and nowhere we have indulged in any violent protest,” he said.

Similarly, Sisodia and another AAP leader Kumar Vishwas, told the court that these are false cases registered by the police just to curb their anti-corruption protest against the government.

All the accused repeatedly told the court that they will not seek bail and will not furnish any bail bond or personal bond for their release.

According to the chargesheet, on August 26 last year, these accused had violated Sec 144 and had staged protest outside the residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi against the alleged coal block allocation scam case.

The police has said the accused had also damaged public property during the protest and some of their senior officers were injured by them.

The police had registered three FIRs against them under various sections of the IPC which deal with rioting, unlawful assembly and use of force to obstruct public servants from discharging their duty as well as section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.